The break up of the British state into four democratic republics living at peace with each other, and the rest of the world, is long overdue.

I’d like to offer my full support to Independence First and encourage others to join as a member and take part in the most important political cause of our lifetime. Wherever a person’s political or party loyalties lie, only full Scottish independence can provide the democratic tools to make those political ideas a reality. Here’s hoping that with Independence First’s support, Scotland will elect no less that 65 independence-minded MSPs to the Scottish Parliament on 1 May 2007 - ie a majority - and set in motion the road to democracy, peace and freedom.”

After watching the development of the cross-party Independence First initiative, I’ve decided to join up with the campaign and have sent them the above message of support - to join the ones they’ve already received from Tommy Sheridan MSP, Shiona Baird MSP (Greens), Sandra White MSP (SNP), Stewart Maxwell MSP (SNP), Campbell Martin MSP (Independent), Mark Ballard MSP (Greens) and many other individuals.

A big break through for Independence First came this summer when the campaign gained the support of the Scottish Greens - who became the first political party with representation in Holyrood to officially back the Independence First campaign.

The purpose of the campaign is straightforward - to campaign for a referendum on Scottish independence. The campaign is open to everyone who supports that objective and wants to campaign for it.

As such Independence First offers potential for building bridges between those in the different political parties who support Scottish independence and the campaign has to be welcomed as being very timely with the Independence Election of 2007 less than two years away.

Because of the nature of party politics the next two years are fraught with potential obstacles since the three parties who support Scottish independence, including our own, are steeped in political point scoring against other political parties in order to make short term electoral gains for themselves. So much so that the bigger picture can often be missed.

It’s a challenge to break out of the old ways of thinking. No political party can deliver a majority for Scottish independence by itself - something the SNP in particular are going to have to wake up to.

To think otherwise is to go down the road of permanent opposition in Scotland, leaving the people of Scotland to suffer under permanent domination by Westminster.

I’d urge all readers of this paper to make contact with Independence First, and discuss ways of developing local groups and local campaigns. And especially to press all of our own six MSPs, and our party nationally, to join with those who have already officially backed this campaign.

It could be the single most important campaign any of us have ever been involved with.

(published in the Scottish Socialist Voice)